Headlight dimmer



H. UPTON HEADLIGHT DIMMER Oct. 26 1926.

\ Filed NOV. 25, 1924 INVENTF.

Patentes oa. as, reas.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFEQE.

HARRY UPTON, F YORK TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY, ONTAREO, CAITATJ..

HEADLIGI-IT DIMMER.

Application filed November 25, 1924. Serial No. 752,101.

This invention relates toheadlight dimmers and more particularly to that type in which the dimmer is movable into and out of a dimming position relative t3 the source of light of the headlight and my object is to provide i. dimmer of this character which may be shifted from one of the said positions to the other in a minimum amount of space. A further object is to so construct and position the dimmer in its non-dimming position that it will serve to absorb certain direct rays that would otherwise have a tendency to rise above a predetermined height.

l attain my objects by means of the constructions hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a headlight showing my dimmer device therein;

Fig. 2 a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 a vertical section of the reflector shown in Fig. 1 and showing the preferred form of my device therein;

F l a similar view showing a modified form of dimmer;

Fig. 5 a cross section of the dimmer screen on a large scale; and

Fig. 6 a sectional detail ofthe solenoid for operating the dimmer.

1 is a headlight casing which is provided with a parabolic reflector 2, a source of light, usually an electric bulb 3, and a lens Ll. These parts are of ordinary construction with the electric bulb so positioned relative to the reflector that the rays of light striking the latter are reflected therefrom to form an approximate parallel beam.

A translucent screen 5 pivotally carried on a crank arm G is adapted to be swung into and out of a position in advance of the electric bulb whereby, when desired, the direct rays are cut out or diminished in intensity and also a portion of the reflected rays to eliminate the glare of the headlight. The remaining reflected rays will be used for lighting a road a few feet in advance of the headlight, which enables the driver of a vehicle to still see the road when his headlight is dimmed.

The crank arm 6 is formed by a pair of cranks Ga and 6b provided with shafts journalled in any suitable part of the headlight such as the reflector. The free ends of the cranks are pivotally connected, in any suitable manner, to the opposite sides of the screen 5. The latter includes a translucent disk of colored Celluloid or fabric i suitably carried by an annular metallic france 9, see l? 5. To ensure the screen 5 hanging substantially normal to the optical axis of the headlight, when positioned in front of the bulb S, the said pivotal connections of the cranks and screen are preferably located above the horizontal center line of the screen as shown in Fig. 3. n Fig. t these pivotal connections are made substantially at the horizontal center line of the screen and the underside of the latter is provided with a weight 10 which tends to ensure the screen hanging vertically when in its dimming position.

The crank arm 6 may be operated in any suitable manner though l prefer to employ a solenoid 11 for this purpose. rlhis lsolenoid is suitably carried within the headlight between the headlight casing and the reflector and is provided with a core 12 having a pin and slot connection 13 with a pair of disks 14e secured to the shaft of the crank arm 6. The solenoid is connected to any suitable source of electric energy, the connections being controlled by a switch (not shown) so that by energizing the solenoid the core 12 will be actuated to rotate the crank arm and move the screen into its dim-` ming position. l/Vhen the solenoid is de- .energized the screen drops by means of gravity, into its non-dimming position.

lt will be noted that the pivotal connections between the cranks and the screen enable the latter to adjust itself relative to the crank arm so that it will lie against the reflector' and be entirely out of the way of the strong rays of light when it is desirable to use the full lightingpower of the headlight. This position is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. 4l. Vhen the screen drops, its lower edge engages the reflector which ensures the screen falling into a position against the reflector.

To absorb the direct rays, from the source of light 3, which strike the screen when it is in its non-dimming position, I form the screen of poorly reflecting material. The screen therefore will cut out the rays which might otherwise rise sufficiently high to be objectionable to the driver of an approaching vehicle.

That I claim is 1. Themcombination with a headlight provided withla source of light and a parabolic retiect-or; of a dimmer comprising a.

pair of crank arms rotatably mounted Within the rellector; and a screen pivotally mounted on and suspended between vthe cranks, the latter being adapted to swing the screen into a'position in advance of the source ont light or into a position below the optical axis ot' the headlight, the screen being adapted to hang substantially vertical in its dimming position and to lie flat against the reflector when swung to its position below the optical axis, the screen also being of small area relative to the area otl the plane, bounded by the rel-lector in which it lies when in the dimming position.

2. The combination With a headlight pro-v vided with a source oit light and a parabolic reflector; of a dimmer comprising a pair of Vlrank arms rotatably mounted Within the reflect-or; and a screen pi'votally mounted on and suspended between the cranks, the latter being adapted to swing the screen into a position in advance of the source of light or into a position belou7 the optical axis of the headlight, the screen being Weighted at one side ot' the pivotal connection so that it Will tend to hang substantially vertical in its dimming position and to lie llat against the reflector when swung to its position below the optical axis, the screen also being ot small area relative to the area ot the plane, bounded by the reflector in vwhich it lies When in the dimming position.

3. The combination with a headlight provided with a source of light, and a parabolic reliector; of a crank arm horizontally journalled Within the reflector; and a screen of translucent poorly reflecting material pivotally carried on the arm so that it may be swung into a position in advance of the source of light or into a position between the source of light and the reflector and directly beloiv and partly behind the source ot light, the screen also being ot small area relative to the area of the plane, bounded by the reflector in Which it lies when in the dimming position.

Signed at Toronto, this 7th day of November, 1924.

HARRY UPTON. 

